Safety Office, Commissary Building
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
Phone 519 888 4567 Ext. 33587
Fax 519 886 8082
Email: safety@uwaterloo.ca
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the workplace are commonly caused by repetitive or awkward movements. Below are some basic tips for identifying ergonomic risks. Look for these characteristics of work that may be causing concerns in your workplace.
Often, low-cost simple solutions can be used to correct these risk factors, like re-arranging storage shelves, changing the height of work surfaces, or re-organizing tasks to reduce unnecessary manual material handling. The most effective ergonomic solutions involve both the workers and supervisors. If further assistance is needed to evaluate a task or to develop a solution to a problem, contact Andrew Scheifele.
There are 3 main risk factors that can contribute to MSD’s in material handling tasks. They are:
Force |
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Fixed or awkward postures |
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Repetition |
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Combining the risk factors of force, awkward posture and repetition increases the risk of injury.
Safety Office, Commissary Building
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
Phone 519 888 4567 Ext. 33587
Fax 519 886 8082
Email: safety@uwaterloo.ca
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.